Artists i admire
Jeff Wall
Jeff wall explores what photography "is" he challenges the idea of photography having top mean "something" (although a lot of his works are social reflections) some were created for simple aesthetic appreciation, and were deemed "spectacular" not in the cinematographer sense but just in the visually interesting a pleasing sense. His works are often in reference to past influential texts, or past art works that he addresses as being similar to today’s culture, and his works are similar to a film miss-en-scene. They seem to capture an everyday moment and while still intriguing the viewer (even though it may be a scene the see ever day of their lives)
He chooses to create images that could hold the viewers short attention span which in turn is a reflection of the ever changing society we live in. He also addresses this short attention span by using light boxes to draw the viewer’s attention to the work. (Back lighted works in large scale remind us of neon advertisements lights) Its Walls way of “advertising” his own work. Two works that interest me are “the Invisible man” and “Odeadek taboritska.” Both share the large size and backlight image, and both are based on a past text.
“The Invisible man” is based on a novel by Ralph Ellison, in which during a street riot an old African American man falls into a forgotten apartment building. He illegally sets up thousands of lights with in his new home. He states “I am not only invisible without light but I am also formless” This is heavily reflected within wall’s photograph. The form of the man is visible but he is facing away from the viewers suggesting indifference and exclusion from society. The Lights aren’t all lit but particular groups are lit highlighting the man and the objects he sees as “friends” This image is not only extremely visually interesting but it also is very curious in nature.. Why are there so many lights? Where is he? Why is he there? These questions interest the viewer and push him into the unknown terrain of the audience being heavily influenced by a work, and the meaning of the work being interpreted differently depending on the viewer.
“Odeadek taboritska.” Is based on a short story written by Franz Kaika’s called “the cares of a family man” which is a tale about a half wooden man that lurks the corridors, stair wells and abandoned streets of the city. Walls photograph is of a figure descending a large stair case which seems to be within a large office building. The figure is blurred by movement this adding mystery and suspense although this is a very ordinary every day occurrence. The dark ethereal mood of the image also contributes to this mysterious air. This work is a prime example of walls capability in paralleling and re-contextualising everyday occurrences with the help of previous links to texts and his use of light, size, mood and colour.